FSU police offer women’s self-defense course

FSU Panama City will host R.A.D. (Rape. Aggression. Defense.) courses this spring to arm women with self-defense skills and techniques.

The free 12-hour course for women begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. The program is dedicated to teaching women defensive concepts and techniques against various types of assault by utilizing easy, effective and proven self-defense/martial arts tactics

Classes will be Fridays beginning April 3 at Gulf Coast State College, Rosenwald classroom 113. Participants can join classes from 9 a.m. to noon or 1-4 p.m., which will meet weekly through April 24.

A new session will begin May 1.

Courses are taught by certified R.A.D. instructors and provide participants with a workbook/reference manual for reference and continuous personal growth.

Women of FSU Panama City, Gulf Coast State College and the northwest Florida community are welcome to join.

For more information, call FSU Panama City Officer Freddie Kinard at 770-2223 or email fkinard@pc.fsu.edu.

Course outline ßH2

Hours 1-3: Utilizing the R.A.D. student annual, students will be involved in a discussion of risk reduction strategies and the basic principles of defense. We also discuss the pros and cons of defense posters, recognizing vulnerable locations and utilizing personal weapons.

Hours 4-6: Participating students will begin the process of hands-on training. The techniques utilized by R.A.D. are based on simple gross motor skills and developed to the point that they become instinctual through repetition. Students will have the opportunity to use these techniques in dynamic impact training by striking padded equipment held by the instructors. All techniques target a single attacker.

Hours 7-9: Students will be introduced to ground defense techniques and will continue to refine the skills previously learned with “practice, practice and practice.”

Hours 10-12: Students will participate in simulated assault scenarios at full contact with the R.A.D. instructors, who wear state-of-the-art protective gear designed for this training. Women have the opportunity to utilize their skills in a safe training environment monitored by instructors.